Enhancing the biodegradation rate of poly(lactic acid) films and PLA bio-nanocomposites in simulated composting through bioaugmentation

AbstractPoly( -hydroxy acids), especially poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and their copolymers poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are novel class of commodity polymers, also used in biomedical applications. They can be synthesized with a controlled biodegradation rate and are biocompatible, bioresorbable and approved by US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for clinical use. Lactic acid polymers are developed in medicine (sutures, implants, orthopaedics, tissue engineering), pharmacy (controlled drug delivery systems) as well as in packaging, agriculture (mulch films, seed preservation), food applications, etc. The paper reviews recent literature data concerning lactic acid polymers synthesis (polycondensation, ring opening polymerization), physical (thermophysical, solubility, miscibility), mechanical properties, degradation behaviour, emphasizing on the poly(α -hydroxyacids) and lactic acid polymers applications in medicine and pharmacy.

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Influence of crystallinity on the biodegradation rate of injection-moulded poly(lactic acid) samples in controlled composting conditions

Polymer Degradation and Stability ◽

10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.01.005 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

pp. 1089-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

Roberto Pantani ◽

Andrea Sorrentino

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Biodegradation Rate

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Toughened Poly(lactic acid)/BEP Composites with Good Biodegradability and Cytocompatibility

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym11091413 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1413

Author(s):

Qingguo Wang ◽

Yongxuan Li ◽

Xue Zhou ◽

Tongyao Wang ◽

Liyan Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Impact Strength ◽

Mtt Assay ◽

Crystallization Rate ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Melt Blending ◽

Soil Environment ◽

Biodegradation Rate ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

Melt Polycondensation

Using novel biodegradable elastomer particles (BEP) prepared by the technologies of melt polycondensation, emulsification, and irradiation vulcanization, we successfully prepared advanced poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/BEP composites with higher toughness, higher biodegradability, and better cytocompatibility than neat PLA by means of the melt blending technology. The experimental results revealed that the elongation at break of the PLA/BEP composites containing 8 parts per hundred rubber (phr) by weight BEP increased dramatically from 2.9% of neat PLA to 67.1%, and the notched impact strength increased from 3.01 to 7.24 kJ/m2. Meanwhile, the biodegradation rate of the PLA/BEP composites increased dramatically in both soil environment and lipase solution, and the crystallization rate and crystallinity of the PLA/BEP composites increased significantly compared to those of neat PLA. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay also showed that the viability of L929 cells in the presence of extracts of PLA/BEP composites was more than 75%, indicating that the PLA/BEP composites were not cytotoxic and had better cytocompatibility than neat PLA. Research on advanced PLA/BEP composites opens up new potential avenues for preparing advanced PLA products, especially for advanced biomedical materials.

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The Chemical Recycling of PLA: A Review

Sustainable Chemistry ◽

10.3390/suschem1010001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Paul McKeown ◽

Matthew D. Jones

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Chemical Recycling ◽

Biodegradation Rate ◽

Platform Chemicals ◽

Biobased Polymers ◽

Recent Trends ◽

Industrial Composting

Plastics are an indispensable material with numerous benefits and advantages compared to traditional materials, such as glass and paper. However, their widespread use has caused significant environmental pollution and most plastics are currently nonrenewable. Biobased polymers represent an important step for tackling these issues, however, the end-of-life disposal of such materials needs to be critically considered to allow for a transition to a circular economy for plastics. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an important example of a biobased polymer, which is also biodegradable. However, industrial composting of PLA affords water and carbon dioxide only and in the natural environment, PLA has a slow biodegradation rate. Therefore, recycling processes are important for PLA, particularly chemical recycling, which affords monomers and useful platform chemicals, maintaining the usefulness and value of the material. This review covers the different methods of PLA chemical recycling, highlighting recent trends and advances in the area.

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Configurational Molecular Glue: One Optically Active Polymer Attracts Two Oppositely Configured Optically Active Polymers

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep45170 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Hideto Tsuji ◽

Soma Noda ◽

Takayuki Kimura ◽

Tadashi Sobue ◽

Yuki Arakawa

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Biodegradable Polymers ◽

Optically Active ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Optically Active Polymers ◽

Biodegradation Rate ◽

Optically Active Polymer ◽

Stereocomplex Formation ◽

Hydroxybutanoic Acid ◽

And Behavior

Abstract D-configured poly(D-lactic acid) (D-PLA) and poly(D-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid) (D-P2H3MB) crystallized separately into their homo-crystallites when crystallized by precipitation or solvent evaporation, whereas incorporation of L-configured poly(L-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (L-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB induced co-crystallization or ternary stereocomplex formation between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and L-configured L-P2HB. However, incorporation of D-configured poly(D-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (D-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB did not cause co-crystallization between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and D-configured D-P2HB but separate crystallization of each polymer occurred. These findings strongly suggest that an optically active polymer (L-configured or D-configured polymer) like unsubstituted or substituted optically active poly(lactic acid)s can act as “a configurational or helical molecular glue” for two oppositely configured optically active polymers (two D-configured polymers or two L-configured polymers) to allow their co-crystallization. The increased degree of freedom in polymer combination is expected to assist to pave the way for designing polymeric composites having a wide variety of physical properties, biodegradation rate and behavior in the case of biodegradable polymers.

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